The Best Age To Claim Social Security (And How Much It Can Earn You)

Deciding when to claim Social Security is one of the most important retirement choices you will make, especially if you are trying to maximize your retirement savings. The age at which you file directly affects your monthly check for life and the total income you may collect over decades. 

As of January 2026, the average monthly Social Security benefit is about $2,071, reflecting the 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment for 2026. While there is no single "perfect" age for everyone, waiting longer when possible generally leads to larger payments.

The key is understanding how benefits change at different claiming ages and how those differences compound over time.

Your benefit increases each year you delay claiming past FRA

Once you reach full retirement age — 66 or 67, depending on your birth year — your benefit continues to grow if you delay claiming. Social Security adds delayed retirement credits of about 8% per year for each full year you wait, up until age 70. This increase is permanent and becomes part of your base benefit for life. For retirees who expect to live well into their 80s or beyond, these higher payments can substantially boost lifetime income.

For example, assume your FRA benefit at 67 would be $2,500 per month. By waiting until age 70, your benefit would grow by roughly 24%, raising your monthly payment to about $3,100. That extra $600 per month continues for life and receives future COLAs as well.

If you claim at age 62, your benefit will be much lower

Social Security allows you to begin claiming as early as age 62, but doing so permanently reduces your benefit. For someone whose FRA is 67, claiming at 62 typically results in a benefit that is about 30% lower. This reduction applies for the rest of your life, even after reaching the FRA. While early claiming provides income sooner, it often leads to significantly lower lifetime payments.

Claiming early can also be affected by work history. If you stop working before claiming and have fewer than 35 years of earnings, zero-income years may be included in your benefit calculation. That combination — early claiming plus gaps in earnings — can compound the reduction in monthly income.

Claiming early means smaller COLA adjustments

Cost-of-living adjustments apply to your actual benefit amount, not a hypothetical higher figure. When you claim early and lock in a reduced payment, every future COLA is calculated on that lower base. Over time, this can widen the income gap between early claimers and those who waited. Even modest annual COLAs can potentially translate into thousands of dollars in foregone income through retirement.

Waiting longer sets a higher starting point for all future adjustments. That can be especially valuable during periods of elevated inflation, when COLAs play a larger role in maintaining purchasing power.

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The amount of spouse and survivor benefits will depend on when you claim

Your claiming age does not only affect you. It can also influence benefits paid to a spouse or survivor. Survivor benefits are generally based on the amount the deceased worker was receiving or eligible to receive. If you claim early and lock in a reduced benefit, your surviving spouse may also receive less. Delaying benefits can help maximize protection for a spouse who may outlive you by many years.

Spousal benefits have their own rules, but the primary worker's claiming decision still matters. Couples may benefit from coordinating strategies rather than filing independently.

Waiting to claim will help avoid the earnings test

If you claim Social Security before FRA and continue working, your benefits may be temporarily reduced by the earnings test. In 2026, benefits are withheld if earnings exceed $24,480 for anyone reaching FRA after this year, which can create cash-flow surprises. While withheld benefits are later credited back, the timing can be disruptive. Waiting until FRA eliminates the earnings test entirely.

For those planning to work into their late 60s, delaying benefits can simplify income planning. It also allows wages to replace lower-earning years in your benefit calculation.

When claiming benefits early might be the right decision

Despite the financial advantages of waiting, claiming early can make sense in certain situations. Retirement planning is personal, and monthly cash flow matters. Some common reasons early claiming may be appropriate include:

• Poor health or a shorter life expectancy
• Limited savings and an immediate need for income
• Job loss or inability to continue working
• A desire to reduce reliance on withdrawals from retirement accounts

In these cases, earlier benefits may provide stability and flexibility that outweigh long-term reductions.

Bottom line

Is maximizing lifetime income always better than accessing money sooner, or does peace of mind today matter more? The answer depends on health, finances, work plans, and family considerations. What is clear is that claiming age can dramatically change monthly checks and total lifetime Social Security benefits.

With the current average benefit of around $2,071 per month, timing decisions can easily swing retirement income significantly over time. Understanding these trade-offs puts you in a stronger position to choose the strategy that best fits your goals and protects your long-term financial security.

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